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Bondi ‘hate speech’ remarks spark torrent of criticism from conservatives

Bondi ‘hate speech’ remarks spark torrent of criticism from conservatives

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi faced a torrent of criticism online Tuesday after she suggested in two separate interviews that the Justice Department would “absolutely target” hate speech in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s shooting death — sparking intense backlash from Republicans and other conservatives and prompting her to further clarify her remarks. Bondi attempted to bridge the divide between her remarks and what she called hate speech that leads to threats in a lengthy social media post Tuesday. “Hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected by the First Amendment,” Bondi said, citing three U.S. laws that criminalize threats of direct violence, such as threats of kidnapping or injury. “It’s a crime.”  FOLLOWING KIRK’S ASSASSINATION, LAWMAKERS REACT TO LETHAL POLITICAL CLIMATE: ‘VIOLENT WORDS PRECEDE VIOLENT ACTIONS’ “For far too long, we’ve watched the radical left normalize threats, call for assassinations, and cheer on political violence. That era is over,” she said, adding that “free speech protects ideas, debate, even dissent but it does NOT and will NEVER protect violence.” Bondi’s remarks, made during a “The Katie Miller Podcast” interview and in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity during conversations about the fatal shooting of Kirk, prompted backlash across the aisle, though it was conservative voices who were the loudest. Many noted that Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder and subject of the interviews, was himself a vociferous defender of free speech protections under the First Amendment, which protects most forms of speech in the U.S., including offensive and hateful speech. Many also appeared to view the new statement as insufficient cover for Bondi’s previous remarks.  “This isn’t a correction or a retraction or a retreat; it’s a post hoc attempt to bend the term ‘hate speech’ to mean something that it never has,” Charles C.W. Cooke, a senior editor at the National Review, said on social media. Nearly 24 hours after Bondi’s remarks, the criticism has continued — nearly all of it from Republicans and other notable conservative voices. Bondi came under fire for the two interviews Monday, neither of which distinguished the type of speech that threatened imminent violence from hate speech.  “There’s free speech and then there’s hate speech,” Bondi said Monday in an interview with former Trump administration aide and podcast host Katie Miller. .”We will absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech,” Bondi said. In a separate interview on Fox News, Bondi reiterated a similar sentiment, suggesting that the government could prosecute Office Depot after an employee reportedly refused to print posters with Kirk’s face on them. She said further that the department was “looking at” the Office Depot case in question. “Businesses cannot discriminate,” Bondi said on Fox News. “If you want to go in and print posters with Charlie’s pictures on them for a vigil, you have to let them do that. We can prosecute you for that.” “I have Harmeet Dhillon right now in our Civil Rights unit looking at that immediately, that Office Depot had done that,” she said of the Office Depot employee in question. “We’re looking it up,” she said. Most of the criticism that poured in Tuesday was from Republicans, who noted that Bondi’s remarks are a flagrant violation of free speech protections guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. They are also, some noted, directly at odds with the views famously espoused by Kirk. GOP ERUPT ON DEM RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN RED STATE OVER PROFANITY-LACED CHARLIE KIRK POST “Hate speech” is a hopelessly subjective term, and even if it weren’t, there is no hate-speech exception to the First Amendment,” said Ed Whelan, a conservative legal expert who formerly clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. “I’m sorry, but this is the sort of leftwing progressivism that conservatives, including Charlie Kirk, abhorred,” Erick Erickson said on X. “We stand with Jack Philips, not against him.” Asked by ABC News’s Jon Karl to respond to Bondi’s remarks on Tuesday, Trump declined to clarify, and instead floated the idea of going after Karl’s outlet, albeit in a joking tone. “We’ll probably go after people like you, because you treat me so unfairly,” Trump said.

At least 50 dead after vessel carrying Sudanese refugees catches fire

At least 50 dead after vessel carrying Sudanese refugees catches fire

In the Mediterranean Sea, at least 2,452 migrants or refugees died or went missing last year. Published On 16 Sep 202516 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share At least 50 people have died after a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire near the Libyan coast on Sunday, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The United Nations migration agency said on Tuesday that it has provided medical support to 24 survivors. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “Urgent action is needed to end such tragedies at sea,” IOM’s Libya chapter posted on X. Last month, at least 68 refugees and migrants died and dozens went missing after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen, according to the IOM. At least 2,452 migrants or refugees died or went missing in the Mediterranean Sea last year, according to the IOM, making it one of the deadliest routes for refugees. Libya has emerged as a transit route for migrants or refugees trying to reach Europe since the fall of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. During Gaddafi’s rule, African migrants found work in the oil-rich country. But since his ouster, the North African country has been mired in armed conflict among rival militias. Libya is home to around 867,055 migrants. Adblock test (Why?)

Mexico celebrates Independence Day with female leader for first time

Mexico celebrates Independence Day with female leader for first time

NewsFeed Mexico celebrated its Independence Day with a female president leading the commemorations for the first time in its history. President Claudia Sheinbaum gave the symbolic “Cry of Dolores” from the balcony of the National Palace. Published On 16 Sep 202516 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)

UN: Israel’s war on Gaza is genocide

UN: Israel’s war on Gaza is genocide

Nearly two years into Israel’s war on Gaza, a United Nations fact-finding mission has delivered its most damning verdict yet: genocide. Navi Pillay, chairwoman of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, says Israeli leaders’ statements and the destruction on the ground prove intent. Speaking to Hashem Ahelbarra in Geneva, she explains the commission’s findings, what legal consequences Israel could face and what must happen next. As famine sets in and civilian casualties mount, Pillay outlines why this report could mark a turning point in international accountability – and whether the UN will be able to act on its own conclusions. Published On 16 Sep 202516 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)

Good news for Mumbaikers: Navi Mumbai International Airport to begin operations by…, to serve 90 million passengers annually, first airline to fly would be…

Good news for Mumbaikers: Navi Mumbai International Airport to begin operations by…, to serve 90 million passengers annually, first airline to fly would be…

Mumbai is set to gain a new international gateway with the upcoming launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The airport is strategically positioned in Navi Mumbai, near Ulwe and Panvel. The launch is scheduled for the end of September. It will operate alongside the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). This will create a twin-airport system, similar to the networks in Dubai (DXB-DWC) or New York (JFK-Newark).